Yarn-tension device and take-up for knitting-machines



-W H. ABEL. YARN TENSIONDXE'VIQB AND TAKE-UP FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 261,415. Patented July 18, 13 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HWILLIAMVH. ABEL, on LAQONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

' YARN-TENSION DEVICE AND TAKE-UP FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,415,

- Application filed' November 30, 1878.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ABEL, of Laconia, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improved Yarn-Tension Device and Take-Up for Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification Figure 1 being a side view of my improved yarn-tension device; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a front view thereof; Fig. 4, a section of thcrsame in a plane indicated by the line a: to, Fig. 1. a

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The ordinary tension and take-up spring for knittin g-machinesis notcapable of adj ustment, nor is it reliable, since'its force gradually weakens.

The object of my invention is to provide a yarn-tension and take-up which shall have all the capability of yielding, in case of obstruction, thatasprin g possesses, and the additional capabilities of an adjustable yielding force, as well as an adjustable friction-surface over which the yarn is drawn in knitting, and a vibrating take-up arm for taking up the slack or overdrawn thread.

The first part of my invention consists in a yielding tension and take-up lever provided with a counter-weight adjustable in position thereon to take the place of the guide-opening now used upon knitting-machines. I thus employ a dead-weight changeable as to the force it exerts by shifting its position on a pivoted lever.

In the drawings, A represents the guide or take-up lever, provided with an eye, a, through V which the yarn passes, and with a counterweight, B, on the opposite arm of the lever. This weight, as represented,fits and slides for adjustment upon the lever rod, and is secured in any desired position thereon by a set-screw, b. This resisting force to the yielding of the lever is of course varied at pleasure by the adj ustment of this counter-Weight, thereby adapting it to any kind of work and when the lever does yield it yields to the extent required without indiminish the friction at will.

dated July 18, 1882.

creasing resistance, as in the case of a spring. This lever is secured to a hub or socket cylinder, 0, which has a partial or vibratory turning movementon ahorizontal rod or pivot, c, mounted in any suitable way upon the knitting-machine. The extent of this vibratory movement of the lever and the position thereof are determined by a stop, D, secured to the pivot-rod c by a set-s crew, d, the lever playing between the two shoulders of a notch, e, as shown in Fig. 3.

The second feature of my invention consists in a friction-tension composed of an adjustable yarn-earryin g eye or loop, in combination with a cylindrical or round friction-surface over which the yarn passes, and this friction device I also combine with my dead-weight takeup or tension device.

In the drawings the cylindrical friction-surface is an extension, f, of the lever-hub G, the same being covered with felt or other suitable soft friction-surface, over which the yarn 9 passes, as shown.

bears an arm, k, that has an eye or loop, 6, through which the yarn runs. This collar is secured to the hub by a set-screw, l, and thereby it can be turned to any position on the hub and secured there, thus carrying the arm h and its eye or loop 6 around the friction-surface f, concentric therewith to any extent required, so as to cause the yarn to travel in contact with a greater or less portion of its circumference, and consequently increase or Two positions of the eye or loop 6 are shown in Fig. 1, one in full lines and the other in dotted lines.

I am aware that, broadly speaking, pivoted levers have been provided with adjustable weights, and that pivoted levers have also been provided with stops to limit their oscillations, and I do not claim broadly the invention of such devices, my invention being limited to the suitable application of the. principles of such devices to the peculiar improvement-of yarn-tension mechanism as I have above set forth, which has involved much thought and contrivance.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The yielding tension and take-up lever Upon the end of the hub or cylinder 0 is situated a collar, E, which A, provided with an adjustable counter-weight, 13, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The stop D, in combination with the vi- 5 bratory weighted tension and take-up lever A, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. In combination with the cylindrical friction-surface f, the adjustable yarn eye or loop 10 i, and a support or hearing for the loop, whereby it may be adjusted with reference to the friction-surface, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. In combination, the dead-weight take-up with the friction device for regulating the ten- 1 5 sion of the yarn, substantially as shown and described.

WM. H. ABEL.

\Vitncsses:

J. S. CHASE, S. M. S. MOUL'ION. 

